Solar jobs increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia in 2017, including many states with emerging solar markets. States with significant job gains of 20 percent or higher include Tennessee, Utah, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maine.

Tennessee specifically reported a 24% year to year growth, increasing from 3,548 solar jobs in 2016 to 4,411 solar jobs in 2017.

The Volunteer State now ranks #14 in the nation for solar jobs with a 2017 ratio of solar workers to overall workforce of 1 in every 668 people, according to the Solar Foundation’s State-by-State break down.

(Credit: Solar Foundation, Solar Job Census)

The long-term trend shows significant jobs growth nationwide. The solar workforce increased by 168 percent in the past seven years, from about 93,000 jobs in 2010 to over 250,000 jobs in 2017.